In NJ, there are many labor unions.
I am not familiar with many of them.
I am somewhat familiar with the Heavy & General Laborers Union.

Something very interesting that not many people know about is how much the union takes from the wage of a union worker. Right now it is about 40% of the prevailing wage, which is about $50.00, that goes to the union to cover the various benefits, pension and dues.

What is really amazing is the fact that if a union worker does not work enough hours, they either don't have, or lose their benefits. That's right, they lose their health insurance, they have no pension. In order for a worker to be eligible to have benefits, they have to work 1,000 hours in a year. In order to have a vested pension, a union employee needs to have 10 years of that.

There are many, many union laborers who do not get 1,000 hours a year. Bye-bye benefits. Pension - uh, no pension. And if the union contractor does not pay the dues, the employee does not get his/her benefits. How bout that?

What happens to all that money? Maybe NJ Senate head Steve Sweeney can answer that. Steve also gets paid well as a Ironworkers Rep.